Brookline Man Arrested for Attempted Coercion and Enticement and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor

BOSTON – A Brookline man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to coerce and entice the transfer of obscene material to a minor.

William Kahn, 28, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Following an initial appearance in federal court yesterday, Kahn was detained pending a detention hearing on Dec. 17, 2025.

According to the charging document, between June 2025 and August 2025, Kahn engaged in online conversations with an undercover agent purporting to be a 14-year-old girl. It is alleged that Kahn engaged in sexually explicit chat discussions with the purported minor, sent a photograph of adult genitalia and discussed meeting in person with the purported minor.

The charge of attempted coercion and enticement provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuabe assistance was provided by the Brookline, Boston and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.